If anyone is struggling to remember the top end of the 6x, 7x, 8x and 9x tables, here is a great little trick with your fingers that may help. [A gold card is available if you can explain why this works...]

First, imagine that your two hands are palms up (little fingers together) facing towards you and numbered so that the little fingers are 6 and you count round to 10 on each thumb.

If I want to find 7 x 9, I join those two fingers together.

Count the fingers above the two being multiplied on the left (here 3) and on the right (here 1). Then multiply these together. Here 3 x 1 = 3

Now count all the fingers below and including the two being multiplied. Here there are 6 altogether (2 on the left and 4 on the right). Multiply this number by 10.

The final step is to add the two numbers together. Here 3 + 60 = 63.

So, 7 x 9 = 63.

Once you have practised this for a very short time, you will get much quicker. Try it and see what you think. Start by trying the two below.

First, we have 8 x 8 = 64 (2 x 2 above the fingers = 4) and 6 below and including the fingers to make 6 x 10 = 60. 60 + 4 = 64

Secondly, we have 7 x 6 = 42 (3 x 4 above the fingers = 12) and 3 below and including the fingers to make 3 x 10 = 30. 30 + 12 = 42